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It was a cold Monday morning in late November. The atmosphere was dry with lack of moisture and the hazy mist that usually accompanied the dry season had sunk over the school, capturing it in its thrall.
It had been exactly a month after the interhouse competitions. To everyone’s surprise, Lepus had won the House Cup and now, a month later, the celebrations had died down and everyone had finally gotten off the high that usually accompanies the event.
The cracked lips and dry weather were not the only things that had brought down the spirits of the students of Lumière International High School. End of term exams were fast approaching and both students and teachers had thrown themselves into last-minute preparations and revisions.
Noel was in a particularly foul mood in the days leading to the exams. He was always surrounded by huge books and shot a deadly glare at anyone who dared to disturb him.
Samuel was not left out of the examination frenzy. He was always holed up in the library trying to cram definitions and diagrams into his head and he could be caught muttering definitions and theories as he walked, pausing occasionally to check and cross-check his answers.
In fact, out of everyone in the school, Jayden was the only one who seemed completely immune from this examination fever. He continued to walk the campus as he always did, with his hands stuck firmly in his hoodie and a scowl at anyone who tried to approach him. He was never found with any book and whenever Noel tried to broach the subject with him, he always dismissed it with a shrug.
All in all, everyone was glad when the final weeks of exams rolled around and when they finally finished their last paper on Friday, nothing could match the joy and excitement of the students of Lumière.
‘Finally, no more examinations!’ Samuel hollered excitedly as he made his way out of the examination hall. ‘I’m finally free! Free! FREE!’
He cackled excitedly. ‘Free to try crazy things, free from endless exams, free to fly, free to sing and to play all day long!’
Paul cast him a strange look. ‘Was that a Barbie reference? What are you doing watching Barbie at this age? Plus, you’re a guy!’
‘So what?’ Samuel threw back defiantly. ‘Barbie was my childhood and it ain’t going anywhere.’ He suddenly paused. ‘Hold on, how do you know it’s a Barbie reference?’ He threw him a suspicious glance. ‘You have a few confessions to make buddy.’
Paul rolled his eyes at him and Samuel slung his arm over his shoulder as he burst into laughter.
On the other side, Noel and Jayden were just making their way out of the hall with other students.
‘I should have answered question twelve. Why didn’t I answer question twelve?’ Noel was worrying his hands as he spoke. ‘But then question thirteen was more complex and I thought it highlighted my particular knowledge. But then question eleven was also interesting though simple. Then there was question fourteen-.’
‘Okay,’ Jayden cut him off, grabbing his fluttering hands to keep them still. ‘It’s done. Stop worrying.’
Noel bit his lip, still looking unsure. ‘What about you? Which questions did you answer?’
Jayden let go of his hands. ‘All of them.’
Noel looked at him in surprise. ‘All of them? Why?’
Jayden shrugged. ‘I had time. Why didn’t you? I thought that’s what you would have done.’
Noel pursed his lips. ‘I did do that in the previous exams and was going to do it today but then I thought it would come off as a bit know-it-ally so I didn’t.’
He glanced up at Jayden. ‘I should have, shouldn’t I? I knew it why didn’t I-.’
‘Noel,’ Jayden broke in again. ‘Let it go.’
Noel sighed. He was about to talk about something else but then the P.A went off.
‘Attention! All students are to report to the grand auditorium for an address by the Headmistress. All students are to immediately move to the grand auditorium. This message comes directly from the office of the Headmistress.’
The place was silent after the news then the students began to mumble among themselves.
‘I wonder what that’s about,’ Noel commented, looking up.
Jayden shrugged and they joined the throngs of students making their way to the grand auditorium.
The grand auditorium gradually filled with students from all years and soon the place was ringing with the excited chatter of teenagers.
Very shortly, members of staff made their way into the building and filed onto the stage. Soon after that, the headmistress herself entered the building.
The students rose as Francesca Fontaine made her way stately up the stage and sat after she had beckoned them to do so from behind the gold and diamond podium.
‘I’m sure you’re wondering why I called you here for this meeting and I’m certain you are all eager to celebrate the completion of your end-of-term exams so I’ll go straight to the point.
‘Another term is almost at an end and with it, another year. As usual, we’ll be having our annual Christmas Ball to end the year and term. In a departure from the norm, however, I am granting a pass to all students to leave the school premises to enable you to get ready and buy whatever you may need from the city.’
Excited mumbling greeted the headmistress’s announcements and soon the whole building was filled with the thunderous roar of applause.
The headmistress smiled before continuing. ‘Yes, I knew you would particularly like that. Normally, I wouldn’t have agreed but I was beset by your prefects and student council representatives to allow you to get yourselves appropriately ready for the ball. They made me aware that some of you had lost, or more accurately, gained weight so the attire you brought from home would no longer be suitable.
‘Also, you have all worked so hard this year I thought you all deserved a treat.’
The students applauded in approval.
‘However,’ the headmistress’s voice turned stern. ‘I have been promised by your prefects and SRC executives that this privilege would not be abused. I expect all of you to carry yourselves with the dignity and comportment that befits a student of Lumière.
‘The duration of this pass is from this afternoon to Saturday evening. Therefore, I expect all of you to be back by Saturday evening.’
Her eyes swept sternly through the entire student body. ‘All of you.’
She smiled once more. ‘I wish you all happy shopping. You are dismissed.’
The students stood and waited patiently for the headmistress’s stately figure to descend and leave the building before exiting themselves.
They talked in excited voices as they left the building.
‘Man, we can hit the bars for some proper end of exams celebration.’
‘I wish I could but I’m sure my girlfriend would drag me shopping with her.’
‘Mine too,’ another said with a sigh. ‘Maybe we could meet up later?’
‘OMG, OMG, OMG! I can’t believe Headmistress Fontaine is allowing us to go out. My diamond bracelet just went out of season I can now buy some new ones.’
‘The new Vanessa’s just hit the shops so we can totally buy new gowns now!’
Samuel scrunched his face in thought as he walked with Paul back to their dorm. ‘Do you think I should get a new tux?’
Paul shrugged. ‘Depends. Who are you asking out to the ball?’
‘Charlotte asked me out, she’s the head cheerleader for the school soccer team.’
Paul glanced at him in confusion. ‘Isn’t she a senior? How did you pull that one off?’
Samuel shrugged. ‘Dunno. We were talking yesterday after practice and she just asked me.’
He grinned evilly at Paul. ‘Now that I’m off the table the girls would be now swarming to you. Have fun with that.’
Paul groaned in resignation. ‘I’m already dreading it.’
Jayden and Noel were lounging in their dorm when Noel brought the subject of the ball up.
‘Lemme guess, you’re not going to the ball.’
Jayden didn’t look up from his book. ‘Mn.’
‘Figures. What’s the reason this time?’
Jayden turned a page in his book. ‘Why would I want to prance around in a dress I would adorn on my funeral whiles we deny the futility and banality of our existence as we twirl under dying flames knowing we are always one step short of death and the unknown yawning void that comes after.’
Noel stared at him. ‘You scare me sometimes you know.’
Jayden shot him a playful grin. ‘What about you?’
Noel sighed and shook his head. ‘I would have but I’ve got nothing decent to wear besides, I’ve got no one to go with.’
Jayden stared contemplatively at him for some time before turning back to his book.
The following morning, Jayden threw open Noel’s door with a bang startling him awake.
‘What the-,’ Noel said groggily as he groped for his glasses.
‘Get up,’ Jayden ordered. He walked over and pulled his curtains open.
Noel winced as the sunlight pierced his eyelids. ‘Jayden, do you know what time it is?’
‘It’s six-thirty in the morning. Get up.’
‘But-.’
‘No buts. Come on.’ He dragged Noel up from the bed and shoved him into the bathroom.
An hour later, they were in Jayden’s family limo as they sped towards the city. Noel, not completely awake, was clutching a cup of coffee.
‘Can you now tell me why I’m awake at seven in the morning on a Saturday, a day after I had just finished my examinations?’
Jayden looked up at him from the magazine he had been glancing through. ‘We are going to get you ready for the ball.’
Noel choked on his coffee. ‘What?’
The limo pulled up in the city centre and the chauffeur held the door open as Jayden got out, pulling a shocked Noel with him.
‘Look lively, Cinderella. Your fairy godfather is in.’
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Happy Valentines Day everyone! How did you spend it and who did you spend it with?😉
To all my single fellas out there, cheers!🥂 The best Valentine is yourself.
My single broke ass slept the day away and laughed at couples who think they’re ‘in love’ and also at people who posted the same person as their valentine lmao. Ah, it’s fun being single.
P.S: The video at the beginning of the chapter is for those who want to check out Samuel’s Barbie reference, specifically from 1:50.
Don’t forget to vote and comment. Peace!✌🏾
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